Sebastian Vettel makes Hitler quip at launch of Red Bull Racing’s RB9

Red Bull launched their new car on Sunday with world champion Sebastian Vettel refreshed and ready for the new season after a quiet winter at home doing some DIY – just don’t suggest he is set on world domination.

The RB9 was unveiled to a thumping techno soundtrack at a rave-themed bash in a warehouse near the team’s Milton Keynes base.

The Adrian Newey-designed machine will be the car title hopefuls Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will have to beat once the championship starts in Australia on March 17.

And asked about his plans for world domination in the form of a fourth straight title Vettel, a German in an Austrian-owned team based in England, could not restrain himself.

‘World domination? I’m German, but I didn’t say that,’ he laughed. ‘I have no moustache,’ he added with a cheeky grin, lest anyone failed to get the Adolf Hitler reference.

‘I’ve been fortunate to stay at home, especially after what was a tough end to last season which drained the energy.

‘So I was able to enjoy being at home, enjoy the things that were awaiting me there, some DIY, stuff you don’t have time to do during the season.

‘I enjoyed that, and I enjoyed sleeping in my own bed, making my own breakfast, rather than sleeping in a hotel and having the buffet.’

Technically the RB9 is much the same as its predecessor, with some changes to the middle area of the car.

But there have been some notable design tweaks, including a new colour scheme, the addition of a prominent new logo from sponsors Infiniti and the scrapping of the letterbox-like slot on the car’s nose.

Designer Adrian Newey said: ‘This year with the vanity panel allowed, we’ve got rid of the letterbox but it [the panel] doesn’t extend a huge way forwards otherwise it becomes an unjustifiable weight.

‘The devil is really in the detail with this car,’ added Newey. ‘Perhaps the most significant change is not in the regulations, it’s the new Pirelli tyres.’

Vettel, who again partners Australian driver Mark Webber, pipped Ferrari’s Alonso to the title by a mere three points in a nail-biting finale in Brazil last year.

And he is expecting another tough battle this time. The 25-year-old added: ‘Hopefully we are up there [among the title contenders]. There is no guarantee for that even though we were doing pretty good in the last couple of years.